Lunar Spartan

Upon the dawn of Celestia’s sun, the solar princess returned back inside her chambers and magically placed on her royal attire to be ready for another busy day with her sun now in motion of rising. A usual day to say the least, for she would be traveling to much areas in Equestria opening new stores and monuments, along with having to visit the Griffon Kingdom to further expand their rapidly growing relations. With everything on, she walked out of her room, greeting her guards as she walked by them down the hallway. The sun’s rays slowly peeked inside the castle windows, a glow of orange and yellow warming her up slowly and so softly as if a blanket was being placed over her.

Such sensation would immediately cease as she felt a sharp pain in her head, stopping her motion almost instantaneously. Why such sharpness would occur was a question she could not answer, knowing well enough that such feeling was similar to when she stood in front of King Sombra. That concerned her, for the dangers of such magic still existing meant that there is another risk of damnation that could again cease peace and harmony in the world. The war from before was long gone, but most did not wish for another to occur. She looked around for the source, not sure as to who would carry such darkness that would match almost identical to the one who brought disharmony.

“Your highness?” Aniketos spoke out, looking at Celestia turning her head towards himself.

Celestia remained silent, wishing to deny that the source was coming from the Spartan. However, such denial would only be foolish to believe as such surrounded him. Was he the one to again bring disharmony? Soon in a moment the darkness left him, as it was never there in the first place. “Ah, Aniketos, good morning,” said Celestia, making sure to remain calm.

“Are you alright? You seemed...” Aniketos looked around, trying to find what could be a threat to her. “...troubled?”

“I do? Oh it must be me attempting to skip breakfast once again,” she replied.

Aniketos nodded. “Remember last time you had skipped?”

“Yes! Yes. No need to repeat such occurrence!”

The Spartan smirked. “I’ll leave you be then.”

“Actually, could you be nice to be my escort to the dining hall? I would like some company for the time being,” she asked.

“Very well.” Aniketos spoke out, now walking beside her in the hallway in a slow and steady pace. He was searching for his wife around the castle but came to no discovery of such. He had spent some of his time with the children, Astra being the caretaker or guard in her own words. My how the two have grown these past years, and with features that could equal to the gods back in Sparta. His lungs exhaled the used air through his nose, for it had been such a long time since he had arrived here, a part of heartache still existing for his old home.

“Anything occurring during the night?” Celestia asked.

“Silent as always. Almost boring to say the least when there is no conflict,” he replied.

She giggled a bit. “What happened that one time when a robber entered the castle?”

“Bah, more of a nuisance than anything. Damned stallion immediately surrendered when I came rushing towards him with my dory.” Aniketos leaned his dory a bit on his shoulder and neck. “Wrong of me to be blood-lusted, knowing well enough how such tragedy can occur in this world.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Hmm? Has our Spartan become merciful?”

“Ha! My mercy is nothing compared to everyone here. Especially yours, your highness.”

“Celestia. Call me Celestia, you’re no longer on duty,” she addressed him.

“Force of habit,” he replied. “Still, having the chance to fight something that could possibly match my own skills is a wish I have yet to be given. Once then I can retire my shield.”

“Oh? So you have thought of retiring then? I had thought Spartans are to be in service until they’re sixty?”

“Aye you are not wrong. My service has still yet to be completed, but there is really no need for a Spartan such as I when there is no borders to be protected. Even the newer guards have no need for their weapons since peace is assured between all neighboring countries.” He stopped walking and stared out through the window. “Even my age is starting to lose its prime.”

Celestia was beginning to be concerned. “Do you mean there’s a possibility of your age accelerating in this world?”

He nodded. “It is a conspiracy that I have yet to confirm, but it could either be such or a disease that I have no defense against.”

“Wouldn’t it have already affected you if such were the case?” She asked.

“Aye. That is why I cannot confirm why I am feeling as such. It is as if my time here is soon due. You already know magic can’t heal me anymore since my body has grown a resistance to it.”

“Do not speak such discrepancies. We all have saved you many times over to keep you healthy and alive.” Celestia turned Aniketos around so he can look at her. “Nothing will harm you. The only time such thing will take your life is when time decides when, and that may be a very long time till we reach such possibility.”

The Spartan stared into her concerned magenta eyes. “I apologize then, for speaking out such nonsense. I did not realize I was making you feel distraught about such discussion.”

“My sister is not the only one that is concerned about you, Ani.” She placed a hoof onto his breastplate, moving a bit closer. “If you need to, you can always come see me if you need support.”

Aniketos did not know what to say, for such comment was something he would not have expected to hear from Celestia. He turned away from her, looking towards the end of the hallway. “Aye, I will consider your offering then.” He softly gripped her hoof and moved it off him. “Let us continue to where you need to be, shall we?”

She smiled. “Let’s.”

Both again continued to walk together down the hallway, now in silence, not realizing that down at the opposite end was Luna watching the whole ordeal. She moved out from hiding as stared down the now empty hallway were she saw her sister having a hoof on her love. “What...was that?” She spoke, feeling an odd pain in her chest.

“From what I saw,” the ghost spoke, “It was your sister making moves on the Spartan.”

Luna gave a disgusted look to the ghost and continued walking away towards her bed chambers. “Do not start with such accusation, it is not amusing.”

It started to laugh following not to far behind her. “Oh please, how else would you describe such whole ordeal? If moving closer while having a hoof on the Spartan’s chest means nothing then there is something wrong with you.”

Luna swung around her hoof towards the figure, but she went though such visual aurora. “You are very annoying.” She turned back around. “Besides, Aniketos already vowed to only love me and no pony else.”

“You really believe such trivial words? Just imagine...” The ghost hovered beside Luna’s ear. “Your sister has all the fame and worship from all the ponies in Equestria, along with being one of the attractive mares one has ever seen. And here we have a lone Spartan who is now known as a war hero for Equestria. If anything, no one would dare speak against it if she were to announce her companionship with him.”

Luna shook her head, trying to speed up her movement. “Damned tongue spewing lies.”

“...and it would all come down to the beginning, when she had her hoof on his chest, looking at him with eyes of attraction.”

“Be silent!” Luna yelled. “You may speak of such imaginary vision, but in reality it will never come true.” She opened the door to her chamber and closed it, hoping to leave behind such ghost. It did not, coming through the door.

“Vision you say?” The ghost started. “I believe seeing your beloved slain in such vision.”

Luna stopped walking and turned around. “You...”

“If what I say may not be true, then that also must be false.” It stood in front of the mirror, which showed no reflection.

“Then what I saw,” Luna started, “was a vision from you.”

The ghost began to smile. “You finally understand the power that I possess.” It moved closer to Luna. “If you allow me to run through your magic, I can not only save your beloved, but also help you gain more followers such like your sister does, or even more.”

“No.” She said, walking away from it while magically removing her royal attire. “No matter how desperate I’ll be, I will never allow you to take control. I can promise you that.” She then closed the bathroom door.

The ghost remained still, a smile growing on its face. “Do not make a promise which you cannot keep,” it said before disappearing in the air.

What followed after was the doors opening, revealing Aniketos entering the room as if he was rushing. He looked around the room, seeing that Luna had already arrived and listening to the shower running. He placed down his shield and dory before removing his helmet and walked towards the bathroom, opening it and seeing Luna actually staring towards the door.

“I’ve been waiting for you.” Luna said with a hint of desire in her voice.

The door closed behind Aniketos, a magical barrier forming around the bathroom. This made Aniketos raise an eyebrow, pushing back the desire he started to have. “I need to discuss a matter with you of something I’ve heard.”

“It has been two weeks since we had our way together,” she spoke, moving up and kissing his neck.

He sighed, allowing such news to wait. “Well...the last time we had such intimate intercourse, you were unable to walk properly,” he replied, feeling the magic around his clothing and armor being removed in haste. “So having to wait made sure that there is no further delay of your nightly duties.” He soon felt himself being pushed down onto the floor.

Luna ran her head up his chest, slightly feeling the hair on it. “You know better than to make a mare wait for such things.” She gasped out, feeling his hands run down the top of her back and on her open wings. “The scent of a true and hard stallion, oh how it makes me burn with lust.”

“I suggest being under some cold water then,” said Aniketos, his eyes meeting a glaring face of a lustful mare. “For somepony who is well reserved, when it comes to such action such as this, you are quite assertive.”

“Take me.” She demanded. “Now!”

Having left the dining room with a stomach filled with food, she moved into her throne, sitting as she watched the other politicians gather round the table that was brought in for discussion. “Alright, we may commence this meeting. All be seated.” She spoke out, watching them sit.

One remained standing, Ink Scroll, preparing for what he was about to speak on about. “Good morning your highness, and to everypony that is here.” He cleared his throat before continuing. “As you know already, there has been an unknown creature that has lived in our world for many years now, having helped us militarily with tactics and weaponry, as well as assisting in the fight against Sombra on both the Griffon and Equestrian side. And even before that helping defeat Tirek on the shores of Equestria.” All around him nodded and quietly agreed with one another. “His use is well deserved for us, but, knowing his background by much interviews by those around him, we know that such power can be used against us.”

Celestia started to have a concerned look even though Aniketos in question was not a first time. She was facing a newer group of politicians, many in which speak out against the Spartan, the military generals being the only exception to such opposition. She continued to listen.

“If he may choose to take control of this nation, he may so with relative ease having fought those with much greater power such as her highness herself. Some of you already heard the time he stormed in here and attempted to attack her highness, with many guards from half of the castle having to hold him down! He is much stronger now than before so what makes us think he won’t do it again!?” Those again muttered to themselves, nodding to what was being said. The military generals not enjoying where this was going to. “What I propose is the immediate removal of the Spartan from the Lunar Guard and to be in exile...”

Celestia continued to listen, noticing the doors down the room opening up. Her eyes widened as she saw Selena attempting to enter. It was too late to do any action, as those gasped by the sight of the hybrid child. “Do not be alarmed everypony,” she spoke out, trotting towards the child.

“Auntie, I can’t sleep,” Selena said.

This caused more muttering back at the table, this time being louder than before. Celestia spoke the guard beside her, asking him to escort the child back to her room. “I’ll meet you in your room. Wait for me, okay?” said Celestia.

“Okay!” Selena spoke out, being guided by the guard out of the room.

The solar princess breathed in deeply, breathing out as she turned to see much horror on most of their faces. She approached the table. “There is no need for alarm.”

One of the politicians stood up. “What was that thing?”

Another joined in. “Your highness, she had addressed you as ‘auntie’, does that mean Princess Luna has given birth to the Spartan’s offspring?”

“This is treason!” One spoke out, the rest following suit arguing with one another of how to accept such sudden event. Again, the military generals were silent, for they knew about such knowledge in exception that it would not be spoken about. It was also out of respect for Aniketos for he deserved such luxury.

“Your highness, this is a very serious matter at hoof. Especially knowing about such laws that are still in place,” said Ink Scroll.

Celestia raised a hoof, being given silence to be able to speak. “I am aware of such laws, but we cannot deny what our Spartan has done for us and for Equestria!” All muttered to one another as she returned to her throne chair. She readied herself to speak more in defense for Aniketos and Luna, but she ceased seeing one of the military generals standing up.

“Your highness, everypony, if punishment were to be enacted for both the Spartan and the lunar princess, wouldn’t that give reason for the Spartan to be hostile? But also cause a chance of sudden civil dispute that can turn bloody?” The general took a breath. “I agree with her highness on allowing such bond to be an exception to the old traditional law, for they too deserve what we are able to have. Love brings us harmony, of course.” He turned to Celesta, giving a bow before sitting back down.

Ink Scroll took the floor once more. “And we all can see why the generals have become so silent. For the Spartan’s influence has gotten deep into their ranks and thus rendered our military void of such authority they have.” He allowed those around to mutter with each other, staring down towards the generals who gave disgusted looks. “Even if such stallion like the Spartan were allowed to take part in being close with Princess Luna, it should have been addressed before such relationship was to occur. I vote to enact the law, in which there can be no veto if this law is broken by either one of their highness. Aniketos Xenagoras of Sparta is to be arrested, and Princess Selene Luna is as well by Princess Celestia.”

Celestia knew this would occur if this was exposed. Not only would they have denied such happening no matter the formality, but there was no way to be against it. She swore under her breath, wishing that her parents did not place such law. Helpless, she watched all those in favor raise their hoofs, except for the two generals who got up and started to leave knowing they would have to arrest Aniketos. And of course, she would have to arrest her own sister. Of course she could go against such law, but it would surely bring Equestria into civil war.

Ending the meeting, she quickly trotted out of the room and down the hallways towards where Deimos and Selena would be resting. She pasted by the guard she had sent and entered the room, seeing Astra watching Selena snuggle up under her blanket. Astra noticed her and quickly bowed. “I apologize your highness, I did not notice she had slipped out from the room. Aniketos brought her back,” said Astra.

Oh no, that means he knows.“Do not mind that, I need you to take Deimos and Selena far from this castle,” said Celestia.

“What? If I may ask why?” Astra grew concerned.

The princess sighed. “They had seen Selena. All the dots connected quickly and they voted to enact the policy set against Luna and I if such law was broken.”

Astra’s ears flopped. “I am...truly sorry for my failure...” She felt Celestia’s hoof being placed on her. In the end, Celestia knew it was her own for not speaking out enough.

“Do not fret my pony, I only need you to take the two children far from here until I give a sign to return.” Celestia looked directly into Astra’s. “No matter what happens, you will wait for my order.”

The bat pony nodded, knowing how serious this is going to be. “Very well, your highness. I will prepare the immediate departure.”

Celestia turned around and walked out the room. “Keep them safe.” She then closed the door behind her.